Explore the history and practice of American Federalism in this episode from Founding Principles: American Governance in Action, a civics video series produced by Bowdoin College. Students watch video, study and analyze primary source documents like The Federalist Papers, and craft an argumentative essay addressing the positive and negative aspects of Federalism.

Support materials include a breakdown of enduring understandings, an overview of content, a list of covered foundational documents and Supreme Court cases, ideas for extending learning, suggested classroom activities, related vocabulary words, and a student viewing guide with comprehension and critical thinking questions. For more resources from Founding Principles, check out the collection page.